The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS) is a non-profit group in

New Haven, Indiana New Haven is a city in Adams Township, Allen County, Indiana, Adams, Jefferson Township, Allen County, Indiana, Jefferson, and St. Joseph Township, Allen County, Indiana, St. Joseph townships, Allen County, Indiana, United States. It sits immediat ...

that is dedicated to the restoration and operation of the ex- Nickel Plate Railroad's steam locomotive no. 765 and other vintage railroad equipment. Since restoration, the 765 was added to the National Register of Historic Places as no. 96001010 on September 12, 1996 and has operated excursion trains across the Eastern United States. In 2012, the FWRHS's steam locomotive no. 765 was added to the

Norfolk Southern The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...

21st Century Steam The 21st Century Steam program was conducted by the Norfolk Southern Railway from 2011 to 2015, featuring four classic steam locomotives pulling passenger excursions along Norfolk Southern rails in the eastern United States. The last train was to ...

program.

History

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society was formed in 1972 and currently has over 400 members and over 70 volunteers. The group was formed with one purpose in mind: to restore an old steam locomotive to operational use and see it running down the tracks again. The history of the group actually begins before the FWRHS was formally conceived. The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society's story began with a series of events that began long before anyone had the idea to form a preservation group. In the mid-1950s, diesel locomotives began replacing steam locomotives for mainline freight and passenger service due to the cheaper operating costs of the diesels. With many of its steam locomotives retired or otherwise not in service by 1958, the New York, Chicago, & St. Louis Railroad, also known as the Nickel Plate Road, classified many of its steam locomotives in non-operating "stored-serviceable" condition. In 1958, the 765 was fired up as a stationary steam generating boiler in the Nickel Plate Road's New Haven, IN shops. Following a few short years in this role, the railroad officially retired the locomotive in 1963 and offered it to the city of

Fort Wayne, IN Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 census ...

as a static monument. The city was eager to accept the railroad's offer, however, they wanted to receive locomotive 767 rather than the 765. They wanted the alternative locomotive because in October 1955 the city, in conjunction with the railroad, built an elevated railroad line through the city to eliminate railroad grade crossings that tied up traffic between the North and South ends of town, and the 767 was used to pull the ceremonial train across the newly constructed bridge. Due to a

grade crossing A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level, as opposed to the railway line or the road etc. crossing over or under using an overpass or tunnel. The t ...

accident and being stored outdoors afterwards, the 767 was much more deteriorated than the 765, which had been stored indoors. The city accepted the 765 and had its numbers repainted to 767. The steam engine was then pushed into Fort Wayne's Lawton Park, where it remained as a monument and a reminder of steam for the next 12 years. In September 1971, at a convention for the Nickel Plate Railroad Historical & Technical Society, a group of individuals decided they wanted to discuss the possibility of restoring the 765, the 767, and a Wabash Railroad locomotive (no.534) cosmetically. By November of the next year, four individuals, Wayne York, Glenn Brendel, Walter Sassmannshausen, and John Eichman drafted incorporation paperwork with Allen County and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, INC. was born. In 1973, the new group worked out a deal with the city of Fort Wayne to acquire the locomotive in Lawton Park under a 25-year lease. They then began looking at the locomotive on a more in-depth level and decided that the necessary repairs could not be done at the Lawton Park site. On September 6, 1974 the FWRHS built temporary tracks. through the city to connect to the existing railroad tracks and they pulled the 765 from the park to the FWRHS property in New Haven. From 1975-1979, a group of unpaid volunteers completely rebuilt the 765 and in September 1979, the NKP 765 was fired and ran under its own steam for the first time for testing since 1963 Along with operating NKP 765, from 1994 to 2001, the facilities also housed another

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...

locomotive, the

Chesapeake and Ohio 2716 Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 2716 is a preserved class "K-4" 2-8-4 "Kanawha" (Berkshire) type steam locomotive built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O). While most railroads referred to thes ...

and operated it in 1996 on short excursions.

About the 765

Railroads commonly relied on drag freights with engines that could pull heavy tonnage, but at low speeds. Following experiments with existing designs, Lima Locomotive Works developed a new wheel arrangement, the 2-8-4, to accommodate an increase in the size of the locomotive's firebox. An increase in the firebox size allowed more coal combustion and subsequent heat output, improving the amount of steam developed and increasing horsepower. These and other modifications created the concept of "horsepower at speed." The NKP 765 is a

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...

built for the Nickel Plate Road in 1944 by the

Lima Locomotive Works Lima Locomotive Works (LLW) was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company's name is derived from the location of its main manufacturing plant in Lima, Ohio ( ). The shops were located be ...

. Classified as an "S-2" Berkshire-type steam locomotive, the locomotive is based on a 2-8-4 wheel arrangement. It operated freight and passenger trains until retirement in 1963. The Berkshire locomotives earned their name from the Berkshire Mountains in Southwest Massachusetts. The Berkshire class of locomotives was not the heaviest, fastest, or most powerful, but was a popular all-around type intended for fast freight service. It survived in regular use until 1958, between Chicago, Fort Wayne, Cleveland, and Buffalo. The Nickel Plate was one of the last Class I railroads to regularly use steam locomotives, only the

Illinois Central The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the Central United States. Its primary routes connected Chicago, Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, and thus, the Great Lak ...

Norfolk & Western The Norfolk and Western Railway , commonly called the N&W, was a US class I railroad, formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It was headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, for most of its existence. Its motto was "Precisio ...

Colorado & Southern The Colorado and Southern Railway was an American Class I railroad in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlin ...

Fort Worth & Denver The Fort Worth and Denver Railway , nicknamed "the Denver Road," was a Class I railroad, class I Rail transport in the United States, American railroad company that operated in the northern part of Texas from 1881 to 1982, and had a profound infl ...

, and

Grand Trunk Western The Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company was an American subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway, later of the Canadian National Railway operating in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Since a corporate restructuring in 1971, the railroad ha ...

were to continue longer, until spring 1960. The Nickel Plate Road had a fleet of 112 of the 2-8-4 Berkshire type steam locomotives. After retirement, most obsolete locomotives were cut up for scrap and melted down. A total of six were saved by various means. Five survivors were from the second batch of the S-2 Class, 755-769, which were built at the height of World War II in summer and fall 1944. The sixth survivor was from the S-3 Class, 770-779, built in spring 1949. The 779 was requested to be saved because it was the last steam locomotive of any type built by the Lima Locomotive Works, Lima, Ohio, the third largest commercial builder of steam locomotives in the United States. The 765 was on display from 1963-1974 in Fort Wayne, Indiana's Lawton Park before being leased by the FWRHS. From 1975 to 1979, 765 was restored to operating condition at the corner of Ryan and Edgerton Roads in New Haven, IN. The restoration site lacked conventional shop facilities and protection from the elements, but on September 1, 1979 the 765 made its first move under its own power. Later that winter it ran under its own power to Bellevue and Sandusky, Ohio for heated, indoor winter storage. In spring of 1980, 765 underwent a series of break-in runs followed by its first public excursion, making 765 the first mainline steam locomotive to be restored and operated by an all volunteer non-profit organization. From 2001 to 2005, the 765 was completely rebuilt at a total cost of $750,000, which involved over 13,000 volunteer hours. The Society has an outstanding safety record and a professional, experienced crew of determined volunteers, several of whom have been with the Society since its inception. This rebuild included adding an MU stand and

in-cab signalling Cab signalling is a railway safety system that communicates track status and condition information to the cab, crew compartment or driver's compartment of a locomotive, railcar or multiple unit. The information is continually updated giving an ...

to allow the crew to know what the line-side signal aspect says before it comes into view. On average, the locomotive experiences 3,000 visitors a day when operating, with visitor and passenger numbers running between 40,000 and 60,000 ticket buyers in 2009 and 2011 in less than 30 days, respectively. Typical passenger trains carry anywhere from 600-1,000 people at a time with tickets for many trips selling out in 24 hours. Press reports indicate the continuous presence of large crowds of "locals and out of towners" and on 765's ability to boost tourism in the towns that it travels through. In 2012, the Pittsburgh Tribune's headline photo proclaimed that the 765 was the "engine that still can" with CBS Pittsburgh describing it as "400 tons of Americana". When not operating excursions, 765 is maintained in a restoration shop in New Haven and maintained by a crew of 70-100 volunteers throughout the year. The shop is open to the public and houses a variety of other railroad equipment including vintage steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses, and more.

Future Plans

From 2012 to 2015, the FWRHS worked alongside the Norfolk Southern Railroad as a part of the

Program. In this program, the 765, along with other historic steam locomotives in the Eastern United States, operated excursion trains for tourists and company employees & VIP's over the railroad's trackage. As well as being a part of the 21st Century Steam Program, the FWRHS was working with the city of Fort Wayne to develop a downtown riverfront property that would have housed the NKP 765 and the FWRHS as well as being a centerpiece for walking & biking trails and a park. The project, originally known as Headwaters Junction, was in the planning phase, but if approved could have boosted the popularity and recognition of the FWRHS by making it a prominent attraction in the city. The project did not pan out as originally intended, with a variety of factors limiting efforts to expand. A down-sized version of the concept, using elements from the Headwaters Junction project, called Pufferbelly Junction Inc. was established in downtown Fort Wayne. The Society shifted their focus to moving their original Headwaters Junction project to north east Indiana. Since 2022, the FWRHS has operated the ''Indiana Rail Experience'', A multi-year partnership with the

Indiana Northeastern Railroad The Indiana Northeastern Railroad is a Railroad classes, Class III shortline railroad, short line freight railroad operating on nearly in southern lower Michigan, northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. The Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company be ...

to operate excursions, host educational programs & special events on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad.

Equipment

Locomotives

Former units

Rolling stock

Source:

Passenger cars

Nickel Plate Road The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States from 1881 to 1964. Commonly referred to as the "Nickel Plate Road", the railroad served parts of the states of ...

Business Car #7 ''Kitchi Gammi Club'': Built by

Pullman Standard The Pullman Company, founded by George Pullman, was a manufacturer of railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the first half of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Through rapid late-19th century d ...

in 1923. Converted into business car in 1953. To the

Norfolk & Western Railway The Norfolk and Western Railway , commonly called the N&W, was a US class I railroad, formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It was headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, for most of its existence. Its motto was "Precisio ...

in October of 1964, Renumbered 107. Pressed into wreck train service in 1967. To

, following the merger with the Southern Railway in 1982. Sold by NS to Virginia Rail Investment Corp (VRIC) in 1989. Restored by VRIC from 1989 to 1994, used on

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

trains from 1988 to 2019. Leased by FWRHS in 2024, Sold by VRIC to FWRHS in January 2025. Currently in service. *

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwest, Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, CB&Q, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of ...

Dining Car #194 ''Silver Diner'': Built by the

Budd Company The Budd Company was a 20th-century metal fabricator, a major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars, airframes, missile and space vehicles, and various defense produ ...

in 1948. Sold to Amtrak in 1971, renumbered 8051. Donated to the FWRHS by Amtrak in 2019, Restored by FWRHS in 2022. Currently in service. *Fort Wayne Railroad Tool Car #701: Built by St. Louis Car Company for US Army as a kitchen car in 1953 & Numbered 89665. Sold to the

Kentucky Railway Museum The Kentucky Railway Museum, now located in New Haven, Kentucky, United States, is a non-profit railroad museum dedicated to educating the public regarding the history and heritage of Kentucky's railroads and the people who built them. Origina ...

& used as a concessions car. Sold by KRM to FWRHS in 1979. Converted into tool car for NKP 765 in 1981-82. Used by NKP 765, C&O 2716 &

Milwaukee Road 261 Milwaukee Road 261 is a S3 class 4-8-4 " Northern" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York, in July 1944 for the Milwaukee Road (MILW). It was used for heavy mainline freight and passenger ...

. Currently in service. * Southern Railway Combine #702: Built by

in 1941, Named ''Delaware''. Donated to FWRHS by Stanley G. Nylen in 1978, converted into tool car for NKP 765. Used as 765's original tool car from 1979 to 1980. Stored by FWRHS from 1981 until 2008. Burned by vandals in 2008 & scrapped on site. *

RPO car #831: Built for the Lake Erie and Western by

Standard Steel Car Company The Standard Steel Car Company (SSC) was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock in the United States that existed between 1902 and 1934. Established in 1902 in Butler, Pennsylvania by John M. Hansen and "Diamond Jim" Brady, the company quic ...

in 1914, numbered 31. Following LE&W merger with the NKP in 1922, LE&W 31 was renumbered to NKP 831. Donated to the FWRHS by the

Norfolk and Western The Norfolk and Western Railway , commonly called the N&W, was a US class I railroad, formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It was headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, for most of its existence. Its motto was "Precisio ...

in 1974. Currently stored offsite in New Haven, Indiana. *

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the largest Class 1 railroads in the United States between 1859 and 1996. The Santa Fe was a pioneer in intermodal freight transport; at variou ...

Combine #2302: Built by

in 1910. Donated to the

Illinois Railway Museum The Illinois Railway Museum (IRM, reporting mark IRMX) is the largest railroad museum in the United States. It is located in the Chicago metropolitan area at 7000 Olson Road in Union, Illinois, northwest of downtown Chicago. Overview ...

. Traded to FWRHS in 1975 for a keg of spikes, burned by vandals in 1978. *

New York Central The New York Central Railroad was a railroad primarily operating in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The railroad primarily connected greater New York and Boston in the east with Chicago and St. Louis in the Midw ...

Empire Coach #2566: Built by the

in 1941 for the

Empire State Express The ''Empire State Express'' was one of the List of named passenger trains, named train, passenger trains and onetime flagship of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad (a predecessor of the later New York Central Railroad). On September ...

. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

Empire Coach #2567: Built by the

in 1941 for the

. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

Empire Coach #2568: Built by the

in 1941 for the

. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Restored by FWRHS in 2024, Currently in service. *

Empire Lounge Car #2571: Built by the

in 1941 for the

, Named ''Hamilton Fish''. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

Empire Coach #2572: Built by the

in 1941 for the

, Named ''David B. Hill''. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

Empire Dining Car #2578: Built by the

in 1941 for the

, Named ''Charles Whitman''. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

Baggage Car #3662: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1955. Donated to FWRHS by Amtrak in 2019, moved to

Wabash, Indiana Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is situated along the Wabash River in the cou ...

. Stored in Wabash from 2019 until 2023, sold to unknown owner in 2023. Disposition unknown. *

Baggage Car #3664: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1955. Donated to FWRHS by Amtrak in 2019, moved to

. Stored in Wabash from 2019 until 2023, sold to unknown owner in 2023. Disposition unknown. *

Baggage Car #3669: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1955. Donated to FWRHS by Amtrak in 2019, Stored in

. *

Baggage Car #3671: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1955. Donated to FWRHS by Amtrak in 2019. Converted by FWRHS into open air car in 2022, Named ''John H. Emery''. Currently in service. *

Baggage Car #3679: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1955. Donated to FWRHS by Amtrak in 2019. Converted by FWRHS into HEP car in 2023, Named ''David A. Donoho''. Currently in service. *

RPO car #5021: Built by the

in 1941 for the

, Named ''Alonzo B. Cornell''. Sold to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in 1987. Sold by RGVRRM to FWRHS in 2023. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...

Baggage car #5735: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1957. Sold to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in 1998, used on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train. Sold to

in 2017, sold by NS to

Everett Railroad The Everett Railroad is a shortline railroad, shortline and Heritage railway, heritage railroad that operates on ex-Pennsylvania Railroad trackage in the Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Hollidaysburg area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It runs f ...

in 2023. Sold by Everett Railroad to FWRHS in late 2023. Converted by FWRHS into first class car in 2024, Named ''Lawton Park''. Currently in service. *

Baggage car #5764: Built by St. Louis Car Company in 1962. Sold to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in 1997, used on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train. Sold to

in 2017, sold by NS to

in 2023. Sold by Everett Railroad to FWRHS in late 2023. Converted by FWRHS into first class car in 2024, Named ''Centlivre Park''. Currently in service. *

Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...

Railway Post Office In Canada and the United States, a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service and used specifically for staff to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO w ...

car #6523: Built by PRR

Altoona Works Altoona Works (also known as Altoona Terminal) is a large railroad industrial complex in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was built between 1850 and 1925 by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), to supply the railroad with locomotives, railroad cars and rel ...

in 1911, Displayed by

Indiana Transportation Museum The Indiana Transportation Museum ( initialized ITM, reporting mark ITMZ) was a railroad museum that was located in the Forest Park neighborhood of Noblesville, Indiana, United States. It owned a variety of preserved railroad equipment, some o ...

from 1992 to 2018. Sold to Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 2018 via Ozark Mountain Railcar, Stored in

. *

Coach #8254: Built by the

in 1949 as a Sleeper, Named ''Collinsville Inn''. Converted into coach in 1963 by Budd for the

1964 New York World's Fair The 1964 New York World's Fair (also known as the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair) was an world's fair, international exposition at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, United States. The fair included exhibitions, activ ...

, renumbered 1508. Sold by

Penn Central The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American class I railroad that operated from 1968 to 1976. Penn Central combined three traditional corporate rivals, the Pennsylvania, New York Central and the ...

in 1976 to the Southeast Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA), renumbered 108 and renamed ''Pleasant Ridge''. Leased to

Metro-North Railroad The Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company , also branded as MTA Metro-North Railroad and commonly called simply Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a New York State publ ...

in 1984. Sold to Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC), renumbered to 148. Sold by MARC to Washington DC NRHS Chapter in 2008. Sold by Washington DC NRHS to FWRHS in 2022. Currently in service. *

Coach #8258: Built by the

in 1949 as a Sleeper, Named ''Franklin Inn''. Converted into coach in 1963 by Budd for the

, renumbered 1537. Sold by

in 1976 to the Southeast Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA), renumbered 108 and renamed ''Hazel Ridge''. Leased to

in 1984. Sold to Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC), renumbered to 148. Sold by MARC to Washington DC NRHS Chapter in 2008. Sold by Washington DC NRHS to FWRHS in 2022. Currently in service. *

Canadian Pacific The Canadian Pacific Railway () , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific Ka ...

Observation car #15412: Built by the

in 1954, Named ''Riding Mountain Park''. Sold by

VIA Rail Via Rail Canada Inc. (), operating as Via Rail or Via (stylized as VIA Rail), is a Canadian Crown corporation that operates intercity passenger rail service in Canada. As of December 2023, Via Rail operates 406 trains per week across eight ...

to private owner in 2005. Sold to FWRHS in 2022. Currently awaiting restoration to operating condition in New Haven, Indiana. *

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

Hospital Car #89516: Built by St. Louis Car Company in 1953, Sold to Amtrak in the 1970s and renumbered 1610. Sold to

Steam Railroading Institute The Steam Railroading Institute is a non-profit organization that preserves, restores, and operates historical railroad equipment and items. Located in Owosso, Michigan, it was founded in 1969 as the Michigan State University Railroad Club and la ...

. Sold by Steam Railroading Institute to FWRHS in 2011. Currently stored in New Haven, Indiana. *

Hospital Car #89552: Built by St. Louis Car Company in 1952. Sold to Amtrak in the 1970s and renumbered 1614. Sold to Steam Railroading Institute. Sold by Steam Railroading Institute to FWRHS in 2011. Currently on static display at Pufferbelly Junction in downtown

Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 census ...

. *

Hospital Car #89554: Built by St. Louis Car Company in 1953, Sold to Amtrak in the 1970s. Converted into baggage-dorm car by Amtrak in 1973. Purchased by Bob McCowan and donated to FWRHS. Traded to

in 2023.

Freight cars

Wabash Railroad The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including track in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri and the province of Ontario. Its primary con ...

flatcar #127: built in 1945 for the

Illinois Terminal Railroad The Illinois Terminal Railroad Company (reporting mark ITC), known as the Illinois Traction System until 1937, was a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern Illinois from 18 ...

. *

Louisville & Nashville The Louisville and Nashville Railroad , commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States. Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of t ...

boxcar #12177: Built by

in 1967. Stored by the

from the early 1980s to 2021. Sold to FWRHS in 2021. Currently stored in

. *

boxcar #18013: Built by Haskel & Barker for the Lake Erie & Western in 1917. Displayed by the

from the 1970s to 2018. Sold to FWRHS in 2021. Currently stored in

. * Atlantic Coast Line boxcar #20767: Built by American Car & Foundry in 1941. Donated to FWRHS by

CSX CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad company operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Operating about 21,000 route miles () of trac ...

in 2024, currently stored in

. *

H34C Covered Hopper car #257784: Built by PRR

in 1957. Displayed by the

from 1987 to 2018. Sold to FWRHS in 2021. Currently stored in

. *

Milwaukee Road The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), better known as the Milwaukee Road , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States, Midwest and Pacific Northwest, Northwest of the United States from 1847 ...

reefer #37314: Built in 1948. Donated to FWRHS in the 1970s, currently awaiting cosmetic restoration in

. *

boxcar #49762: Built by

American Car and Foundry ACF Industries, originally the American Car and Foundry Company (abbreviated as ACF), is an American manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once (1925–54) a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches und ...

in 1929. Donated to the

Alcoa Alcoa Corporation (an acronym for "Aluminum Company of America") is an American industrial corporation. It is the world's eighth-largest producer of aluminum. Alcoa conducts operations in 10 countries. Alcoa is a major producer of primary alu ...

Aluminum Co. of West Lafayette, Indiana, in December of 1986. Stored by ITM from 1986 to 2021. Sold to FWRHS in 2021. Currently stored in

. * Dubuque Meats reefer #63605: Built in 1954. Donated to FWRHS in the 1970s, currently awaiting cosmetic restoration in

. * Dubuque Meats reefer #63610: Built in 1954. Donated to FWRHS in the 1970s, currently awaiting cosmetic restoration in

. *

boxcar #83074: Built by Haskel & Barker in 1902 for the Lake Erie & Western & numbered 83074. Following LE&W & NKP merger in 1922, LE&W boxcar 43074 was renumbered NKP 83074. Donated to FWRHS in the 1970s, currently stored in

. *

Baltimore & Ohio The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the oldest railroad in the United States and the first steam-operated common carrier. Construction of the line began in 1828, and it operated as B&O from 1830 until 1987, when it was merged into the Chessie ...

gondola #485797: Built in the 1960s, Donated to FWRHS by

in 2021. Used to transport coal for NKP 765, awaiting cosmetic restoration. Currently in service. *

caboose #141: Built in 1901 for the Lake Erie & Western as a 4 wheel bobber caboose, rebuilt by NKP into 2 truck 8 wheel caboose. Purchased by John Keller in the 1960s, donated by John Keller to FWRHS in 1975. Currently in service. *

caboose #451: Built by International Car Company in 1962 for the Nickel Plate Road. Purchased by private owner in the 1980s, moved to FWRHS. Donated to FWRHS in 2006. Currently in service. *

caboose #2543: Built for the Wabash in the early 1900s. Retired by the Wabash in 1957, placed on static display with Wabash

0-6-0 is the Whyte notation designation for steam locomotives with a wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. Historically, this was the most common wheel arrangement used o ...

no. 534 in Sweeney Park in downtown

Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 United S ...

. Donated by City of Fort Wayne to FWRHS in 1984, along with 534. Restored by FWRHS in 2021. Currently in service.

Other equipment

*Fort Wayne Railroad water tender #767: Built in 1949 by the

for

Louisville and Nashville class M-1 The Louisville and Nashville M-1 was a class of forty-two 2-8-4 steam locomotives built during and after World War II as dual-service locomotives. They were nicknamed "Big Emmas" by crews and were built in three batches between 1942 and 1949. His ...

. Donated to FWRHS by Richard Sanborn of

Seaboard System The Seaboard System Railroad, Inc. was a US Class I railroad that operated from 1982 to 1986. Since the late 1960s, Seaboard Coast Line Industries had operated the Seaboard Coast Line and its sister railroads—notably the Louisville & Nashvill ...

in 1984 and numbered 765A. Restored by FWRHS in 2017 and renumbered 767. Currently in service. *

water tender #3042: Built by

ALCO The American Locomotive Company (often shortened to ALCO, ALCo or Alco) was an American manufacturer that operated from 1901 to 1969, initially specializing in the production of locomotives but later diversifying and fabricating at various time ...

in December 1940 for NYC L-3b "Mohawk" 3042. Retired by the NYC in September 1953, locomotive scrapped in October 1953. Tender saved by NYC for non-revenue service, converted into diesel fuel tank car. Purchased by

Ross Rowland Ross E. Rowland, Jr. (born 1940) is a figure in United States railroad preservation. He has run public and demonstration excursions on existing railroads utilizing steam locomotives. Early life and financial career Born in Albany, New York, in ...

for the

American Freedom Train Two national ''Freedom Trains'' have toured the United States: the 1947–49 special exhibit ''Freedom Train'' and the 1975–76 ''American Freedom Train'' which celebrated the United States Bicentennial. Each train had its own special red, white ...

in 1975. Used as water tender for Reading 2101 for the American Freedom Train and the Chessie Steam Special from 1975 to 1979. Damaged in a Roundhouse fire in Silver Grove, Kentucky along with 2101 on March 6, 1979. Sold to Bob Spaugh in the 1980s. Donated by Spaugh to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987, Displayed behind

New York Central 3001 New York Central 3001 is a preserved L-3a class 4-8-2 ''New York Central Mohawk, Mohawk'' (Mountain)-type steam locomotive built in October 1940 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York as a member of the L-3a class for the N ...

. Sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in September 2023. Currently on static display at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in

Elkhart, Indiana Elkhart ( ) is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 53,923 at the 2020 census. The city is located east of South Bend, Indiana. It is the most populous city in the Elkhart–Goshen metropolitan area, which in tu ...

, to be moved to

along with 3001. *Louisville & Nashville water tender #40985: Built in 1949 for

1989. Purchased by Glenn Campbell for Bessemer and Lake Erie 643. Purchased by FWRHS from Glenn Campbell in 2019, currently stored in

. *

Virginian Railway The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads. History ...

200 ton wrecking crane #B-19: Built by Industrial Works of

Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city in Bay County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 32,661 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city is located just upriver from the Saginaw Bay on the Saginaw River. It is the princip ...

in 1922. Converted from steam to diesel in 1959. Currently stored in

. *

snowplow A snowplow (also snow plow, snowplough or snow plough) is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes. Although this term is often used to ref ...

#590000: Built in 1978 for the N&W. Stored in

from the early 2000s or 2010s until 2022. Donated by FWRHS to

in 2022. *

speeder car #1117

External links

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical SocietyIndiana Rail ExperienceGreat Steel FleetAmerican Locomotive Project
- official website of New York Central 3001
Nickel Plate Road Historical & Technical Society

References

{{reflist Rail transportation preservation in the United States 1972 establishments in Indiana

History

About the 765

Future Plans

Equipment

Locomotives

Former units

Rolling stock

Passenger cars

Freight cars

Other equipment

External links

See also

References